For
years, Caledon has written about the need for a reformed architecture of income
security in which constituent programs are adequate in both absolute and
relative terms, portable across the country and respectful of human dignity.

There
is currently scant financial assistance available for working poor individuals
and heads of households between ages 18 and 64.Caledon has argued for increases to the Working Income Tax Benefit,
which is too modest to have a real impact on poverty. Neither are Canadians in this age group well
served by the disability income system. Caledon
has proposed a separate income program that would be run by the federal
government and would replace provincial/territorial welfare for working age
persons with severe disabilities. The
design of the proposed Basic Income would be modelled on the federal Guaranteed
Income Supplement for low-income seniors. The new benefit would be more adequate than current welfare
programs and would be indexed. As part
of this income security redesign, a negotiated accord would require
reinvestment of provincial/territorial savings into a coherent system of
disability supports for all persons with disabilities – whether working or on
some program of income support.